It is fitting to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, to be reconciled with God and the Church community before entering the sacred time of the Easter Triduum. Reconciliation services are one way to celebrate God’s mercy and forgiveness and to ask forgiveness of one another. This prayer celebration can serve as preparation.

See Liturgical Calendar–Seasons–Holy Week for additional background information and prayer.


"Caring for Others" Prayer Celebration Notes

Focus		Examination of conscience following Jesus’ commands
Materials		Prayer table, Bible, candle, music, slips of paper, basket
Music		"With You by My Side," "With Hope and Healing" (Meditation), Blest Are We CD 7 & 8; "Lead Me, Lord," John D. Becker; "They’ll Know We Are Christians," Peter Scholtes (OCP Publications)
Reading		Luke 6:17-31
Preparation		Before the celebration, discuss the beatitudes from Luke’s perspective (6:17-31) and Matthew’s (5:3-12). Have each participant select a beatitude to focus on in their life and record it on a slip of paper to be placed in a basket on the prayer table during the liturgy. Print out and photocopy "Caring for Others" for each participant.
Adaptation		Play meditative music between each Beatitude reading, giving participants time to reflect on the questions more deeply.
Additional Materials		For a full year of liturgies, from which this one was adapted, see Prayer Celebrations, Middle School Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0–382–30570–1 Used as a resource for this liturgy, see also Jesus Did Not Celebrate Christmas – A Guide for Christians to Jewish Holidays Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-9709574-0-8 Blest Are We CD, Level/Grade 7-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Words and melody for students; contains music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2